Virgin Islands Capital Resources, Inc. (VI Cap) and the University of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center will host the 2000 Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Conference on June 24 at the Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino on St. Croix.
The theme of the conference is "Connecting the US Virgin Islands to the World Economy," and the schedule features a keynote presentation by Daniel Johnson, a partner in the firm Fenwick & West LLP and an intellectual property attorney who counsels technology companies in Silicon Valley.
The program also features the first-ever Youth in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, which recognize outstanding entrepreneurs in the territory.
The one-day conference is designed to focus on the private sector and to offer practical information regarding how to participate in the global marketplace. Besides the keynote address, presentations and panels include, "The Status of the US Virgin Islands in the World Economy," "How Other Communities are Connecting," "Implementation Strategies – Logistics," and "Implementation Strategies – Technology." Businesses, those interested in community development, and government workers and officials are all expected to gain useful information and networking contacts from the event.
The 2000 conference follows the success of the 1999 conference, which had a theme of "Establishing a Healthy Economy through Entrepreneurship and the Private Sector" and featured a Keynote address by Michael Fields, former president of Oracle USA and successful entrepreneur.
"This year’s conference builds on the foundation we began laying last year," said SBDC Associate Director Daniel T. Hogue. "We want to expose our local business community to as many new avenues as possible in order to maximize their ability to tap into new markets. If we can gain a foothold into the emerging technology markets, then we can diversify our economy and also create new job markets for the future."
Registration for the conference can be done on-line in the services area of http://www.ekalaloo.com. All other forms of registration should be directed to Karen Jones at the office of the University of the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center on St. Croix (340-692-5270). To find out more about the conference please also speak with Karen Jones or visit the web site at http://www.seslia.com/html/entrepreneurial_conference.html.

All the parties involved in the lawsuit surrounding the Southern Energy-V.I. government deal to sell 80 percent of the Water and Power Authority were claiming a modicum of victory following a Territorial Court judge’s decision Tuesday.
Earlier this year, St. Croix community activist Gail Watson Chiang filed suit against the V.I. government, Southern Energy and several WAPA board members. Among the complaints filed by Chiang and her attorney, Lee Rohn, were that Gov. Charles Turnbull didn’t have the authority to enter into negotiations with the company and that by dealing only with Southern local competitive bidding laws were violated.
Turnbull subsequently submitted the sale proposal to the Legislature for its approval. The proposal would give the Atlanta-based company 80 percent ownership of WAPA in a deal worth between $380 million and $400 million over 25 years. The immediate value to the government is about $148 million, including the forgiveness of $31 million the government currently owes WAPA and other indebtedness.
Of the $14 million, Southern Energy would pay the government approximately $105 million in cash up front.
On Tuesday, Territorial Court Judge Alphonso Andrews dismissed the counts against Turnbull and Southern Energy. He also dismissed counts against WAPA board members Andrew Rutnik, Arthur Downing, Dean Plaskett and Ira Hobson. They were all on the government’s negotiating team that went to Southern’s headquarters in Atlanta last summer. Chiang alleged that first-class airfare and rooms at the Ritz Carlton, among other things, were paid for by Southern.
Andrews let stand Chiang’s contention that the Public Finance Authority’s financing of the initiative, particularly the hiring of consultants, was illegal in that the PFA can only fund capital improvement projects. That issue will be addressed in an Aug. 22 hearing.
"Really, it’s a great victory. I think the judge was fair and just," Chiang said, adding that the survival of the PFA count showed the case had merit. "The issue now is how much money they have expended, which is millions, to determine if that was legal or illegal and if they have to pay it back."
Meanwhile, James O’Bryan, a Turnbull administration spokesman, said that government officials had yet to be fully briefed on the decision Tuesday night. Still, he said the dismissal of the counts against the government, Southern Energy and the WAPA board members supported the governor’s decision to enter into negotiations with the company.
"In large part, the decision is one that is favorable to the governor and his position," O’Bryan said. "The governor continues to support the proposal and feels he was operating within the confines of his authority as chief executive."
Because administration staff hadn’t seen Andrews’s decision Tuesday evening, O’Bryan was reluctant to comment on the outstanding decision on the PFA.
"In the long run, the governor feels the court will hold up his decision" to enter into negotiations with Southern Energy, O’Bryan said.
Andrews dismissed several of the counts because they were not yet "ripe." If the Legislature approves the sale proposal, Chiang said the dismissed counts will be viable.
"The issue of ripening was an issue we had to face a long time ago. We had to go ahead and file it rather than wait," she said. "Once the Legislature makes a decision . . . that will make them ripe.
"We’re in the fight. It ain’t over."

All the parties involved in the lawsuit surrounding the Southern Energy-V.I. government deal to sell 80 percent of the Water and Power Authority were claiming a modicum of victory following a Territorial Court judge’s decision Tuesday.
St. Croix activist Gail Watson Chiang filed suit earlier this year against the V.I. government, Southern Energy and several WAPA board members. Among the complaints filed by Chiang and her attorney, Lee Rohn, were that Gov. Charles Turnbull didn’t have the authority to enter negotiations with the company and that by dealing only with Southern, local competitive bidding laws were violated.
On Tuesday, Territorial Court Judge Alphonso Andrews dismissed the counts against Turnbull and Southern Energy. He also dismissed counts against WAPA board members Andrew Rutnik, Arthur Downing, Dean Plaskett and Ira Hobson. They were all on the government’s negotiating team that went to Southern’s headquarters in Atlanta last summer. Chiang alleged that Southern paid for their first-class airfare and rooms at the Ritz Carlton, among other things.
Andrews let stand Chiang’s contention that the Public Finance Authority’s financing of the initiative, particularly its hiring of consultants, was illegal in that the PFA can only fund capital improvement projects. That issue will be addressed in an Aug. 22 hearing.
Turnbull has submitted the sale proposal to the Legislature for its approval but the Legislature has not yet acted. If it approves the sale, Chiang said that will change the status of some of the dismissed counts.
The governor's proposal would give the Atlanta-based company 80 percent ownership of WAPA in a deal worth between $380 million and $400 million over 25 years. The immediate value to the government is about $148 million, including the forgiveness of $31 million the government now owes WAPA and other indebtedness.
Of the $148 million, Southern Energy would pay the government approximately $105 million in cash up front.
Chaing called Andrews' decision "a great victory."
"I think the judge was fair and just," she said, adding that the survival of the PFA count showed the case had merit. "The issue now is how much money they have expended, which is millions, to determine if that was legal or illegal and if they have to pay it back."
James O’Bryan, a Turnbull administration spokesman, said Tuesday night that government officials had yet to be fully briefed on the decision. Still, he said the dismissal of the counts against the government, Southern Energy and the WAPA board members supported the governor’s decision to enter into negotiations with the company.
"In large part, the decision is one that is favorable to the governor and his position," O’Bryan said. "The governor continues to support the proposal and feels he was operating within the confines of his authority as chief executive."
Because administration staff hadn’t seen Andrews’s decision Tuesday evening, O’Bryan was reluctant to comment on the outstanding decision on the PFA.
"In the long run, the governor feels the court will hold up his decision" to fund consultants with the PFA money, O’Bryan said.
Andrews dismissed several of the counts because they were not yet "ripe." If the Legislature approves the sale proposal, Chiang said the dismissed counts will be viable.
"The issue of ripening was an issue we had to face a long time ago. We had to go ahead and file it rather than wait," she said. "Once the Legislature makes a decision . . . that will make them ripe.
"We’re in the fight. It ain’t over."

All the parties involved in the lawsuit surrounding the Southern Energy-V.I. government deal to sell 80 percent of the Water and Power Authority were claiming a modicum of victory following a Territorial Court judge’s decision Tuesday.
St. Croix activist Gail Watson Chiang filed suit earlier this year against the V.I. government, Southern Energy and several WAPA board members. Among the complaints filed by Chiang and her attorney, Lee Rohn, were that Gov. Charles Turnbull didn’t have the authority to enter negotiations with the company and that by dealing only with Southern, local competitive bidding laws were violated.
On Tuesday, Territorial Court Judge Alphonso Andrews dismissed the counts against Turnbull and Southern Energy. He also dismissed counts against WAPA board members Andrew Rutnik, Arthur Downing, Dean Plaskett and Ira Hobson. They were all on the government’s negotiating team that went to Southern’s headquarters in Atlanta last summer. Chiang alleged that Southern paid for their first-class airfare and rooms at the Ritz Carlton, among other things.
Andrews let stand Chiang’s contention that the Public Finance Authority’s financing of the initiative, particularly its hiring of consultants, was illegal in that the PFA can only fund capital improvement projects. That issue will be addressed in an Aug. 22 hearing.
Turnbull has submitted the sale proposal to the Legislature for its approval but the Legislature has not yet acted. If it approves the sale, Chiang said that will change the status of some of the dismissed counts.
The governor's proposal would give the Atlanta-based company 80 percent ownership of WAPA in a deal worth between $380 million and $400 million over 25 years. The immediate value to the government is about $148 million, including the forgiveness of $31 million the government now owes WAPA and other indebtedness.
Of the $148 million, Southern Energy would pay the government approximately $105 million in cash up front.
Chaing called Andrews' decision "a great victory."
"I think the judge was fair and just," she said, adding that the survival of the PFA count showed the case had merit. "The issue now is how much money they have expended, which is millions, to determine if that was legal or illegal and if they have to pay it back."
James O’Bryan, a Turnbull administration spokesman, said Tuesday night that government officials had yet to be fully briefed on the decision. Still, he said the dismissal of the counts against the government, Southern Energy and the WAPA board members supported the governor’s decision to enter into negotiations with the company.
"In large part, the decision is one that is favorable to the governor and his position," O’Bryan said. "The governor continues to support the proposal and feels he was operating within the confines of his authority as chief executive."
Because administration staff hadn’t seen Andrews’s decision Tuesday evening, O’Bryan was reluctant to comment on the outstanding decision on the PFA.
"In the long run, the governor feels the court will hold up his decision" to fund consultants with the PFA money, O’Bryan said.
Andrews dismissed several of the counts because they were not yet "ripe." If the Legislature approves the sale proposal, Chiang said the dismissed counts will be viable.
"The issue of ripening was an issue we had to face a long time ago. We had to go ahead and file it rather than wait," she said. "Once the Legislature makes a decision . . . that will make them ripe.
"We’re in the fight. It ain’t over."

News of the death of George A. Farrelly shocked the territory Tuesday.
Farrelly, the commissioner of Police during the Gov. Juan Luis administration, died Tuesday morning of a heart attack. He was 59.
News of Farrelly’s death triggered a flood of condolences from his former colleagues and current politicians.
"George Farrelly was a dedicated public servant with a very strong commitment to public safety," said Gov. Charles Turnbull.
Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said he was shocked when he heard of his close friend and relative’s death. Farrelly, who owned GAF Security and Consultant Services, also served on the GERS board of directors.
"George was an individual totally dedicated to the Virgin Islands community, especially on the island of St. Croix," James said. "His presence will most certainly be missed in the political as well as social arena."
Attorney Julio Brady, who served as lieutenant governor under Luis, recalled working with Farrelly, who was then a police detective while Brady was a federal prosecutor, during the Fountain Valley murder trial in the early 1970s.
"George’s familiarity with the people of St. Croix and his uncanny ability to positively interact with fellow police officers, victims and witnesses proved to be an invaluable asset to (former Police Commissioner) Milton Branch and myself as we tried this complex and extraordinary case," Brady said.
As lieutenant governor, Brady recommended that Farrelly be named police commissioner. During his tenure, Brady said, Farrelly established a networking system that connected the V.I. Police Department with every major metropolitan police force in the nation. Brady also said that he and Farrelly conducted an annual conference in the territory that attracted criminal justice experts from around the country.
Brady noted that while Farrelly was commissioner, numerous neighborhood crime watch groups were established as well as other aspects of community policing. All were made effective by Farrelly’s open-door policy, he said.
"Apart from our official relationship, George and I enjoyed a close friendship and camaraderie," Brady said.
Sen. Gregory Bennerson, who is on leave from his position as a police lieutenant, said he too was shocked to hear of Farrelly’s death.
"The Virgin Islands has lost a true warrior and hero in keeping the community protected," he said.
Farrelly, the nephew of former Gov. Alexander Farrelly, is survived by his parents, Vangie and Stanley, his wife Vickie, their children and his sister Pat.

News of the death of George A. Farrelly shocked the territory Tuesday.
Farrelly, the commissioner of Police during the Gov. Juan Luis administration, Tuesday morning of a heart attack. He was 59.
News of Farrelly’s death triggered a flood of condolences from his former colleagues and current politicians.
"George Farrelly was a dedicated public servant with a very strong commitment to public safety," said Gov. Charles Turnbull.
Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said he was shocked when he heard of his close friend and relative’s death. Farrelly, who owned GAF Security and Consultant Services, also served on the GERS board of directors.
"George was an individual totally dedicated to the Virgin Islands community, especially on the island of St. Croix," James said. "His presence will most certainly be missed in the political as well as social arena."
Attorney Julio Brady, who served as lieutenant governor under Luis, recalled working with Farrelly, who was then a police detective while Brady was a federal prosecutor, during the Fountain Valley murder trial in the early 1970s.
"George’s familiarity with the people of St. Croix and his uncanny ability to positively interact with fellow police officers, victims and witnesses proved to be an invaluable asset to (former Police Commissioner) Milton Branch and myself as we tried this complex and extraordinary case," Brady said.
As lieutenant governor, Brady recommended that Farrelly be named police commissioner. During his tenure, Brady said, Farrelly established a networking system that connected the V.I. Police Department with every major metropolitan police force in the nation. Brady also said that he and Farrelly conducted an annual conference in the territory that attracted criminal justice experts from around the country.
Brady noted that while Farrelly was commissioner, numerous neighborhood crime watch groups were established as well as other aspects of community policing. All were made effective by Farrelly’s open-door policy, he said.
"Apart from our official relationship, George and I enjoyed a close friendship and camaraderie," Brady said.
Sen. Gregory Bennerson, who is on leave from his position as a police lieutenant, said he too was shocked to hear of Farrelly’s death.
"The Virgin Islands has lost a true warrior and hero in keeping the community protected," he said.
Farrelly, the nephew of former Gov. Alexander Farrelly, is survived by his parents, Vangie and Stanley, his wife Vickie, their children and his sister Pat.

News of the death of George A. Farrelly shocked the territory Tuesday.
Farrelly, the commissioner of Police during the Gov. Juan Luis administration, died Tuesday morning of a heart attack. He was 59.
News of Farrelly’s death triggered a flood of condolences from his former colleagues and current politicians.
"George Farrelly was a dedicated public servant with a very strong commitment to public safety," said Gov. Charles Turnbull.
Lt. Gov. Gerard Luz James II said he was shocked when he heard of his close friend and relative’s death. Farrelly, who owned GAF Security and Consultant Services, also served on the GERS board of directors.
"George was an individual totally dedicated to the Virgin Islands community, especially on the island of St. Croix," James said. "His presence will most certainly be missed in the political as well as social arena."
Attorney Julio Brady, who served as lieutenant governor under Luis, recalled working with Farrelly, who was then a police detective while Brady was a federal prosecutor, during the Fountain Valley murder trial in the early 1970s.
"George’s familiarity with the people of St. Croix and his uncanny ability to positively interact with fellow police officers, victims and witnesses proved to be an invaluable asset to (former Police Commissioner) Milton Branch and myself as we tried this complex and extraordinary case," Brady said.
As lieutenant governor, Brady recommended that Farrelly be named police commissioner. During his tenure, Brady said, Farrelly established a networking system that connected the V.I. Police Department with every major metropolitan police force in the nation. Brady also said that he and Farrelly conducted an annual conference in the territory that attracted criminal justice experts from around the country.
Brady noted that while Farrelly was commissioner, numerous neighborhood crime watch groups were established as well as other aspects of community policing. All were made effective by Farrelly’s open-door policy, he said.
"Apart from our official relationship, George and I enjoyed a close friendship and camaraderie," Brady said.
Sen. Gregory Bennerson, who is on leave from his position as a police lieutenant, said he too was shocked to hear of Farrelly’s death.
"The Virgin Islands has lost a true warrior and hero in keeping the community protected," he said.
Farrelly, the nephew of former Gov. Alexander Farrelly, is survived by his parents, Vangie and Stanley, his wife Vickie, their children and his sister Pat.

Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, who is suing the Education Department and Commissioner Ruby Simmonds over Simmonds' plan to impose school bus fees in the fall, took another route toward the same end at Monday's session of the full Senate.
Hansen offered an amendment requiring Education to determine how much money it will take to provide free bus transportation for V.I. students, and then to seek federal funding and an appropriation from the V.I. Legislature. The measure was passed 10-0 without discussion, with five senators absent.
Voting for the amendment with Hansen were Sens. Gregory Bennerson, Lorraine Berry, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Violet Anne Golden, George Goodwin, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards.
Hansen's amendment was among the first of many senators energetically added to a routine bill retroactively changing the effective date of the 911 Emergency Services telephone customer surcharge. The session had been scheduled to extend into Tuesday, but the lawmakers adjourned shortly after 8 p.m. Monday.

Public transit employees, ex-employees and riders were left to their own interpretations Tuesday of the potential impact of a Senate vote the night before to appropriate $1 million for Vitran from one of the government's numerous funds.
The action came as approval by the full Senate Monday night of an amendment offered by Sen. Adelbert Bryan to appropriate the money for the Public Works Department from the government's Indirect Cost Fund. The measure specified that the money is to be used this fiscal year (which ends Sept. 30) strictly for public transportation purposes – rehiring laid-off Vitran bus drivers and hiring additional drivers for the separate Vitran service for the disabled.
In April, the Senate had appropriated $660,000 from the same fund for what most lawmakers and union leaders had thought was the same purpose. However, a Government House official said last week that more than half of that money had gone to pay Vitran bills and that what remained was not enough to rehire any laid-off workers.
Bryan's amendment Monday was one of several senators attached successfully to a housekeeping bill that provided for changing the effective date that the V.I. Telephone Corp. was to begin collecting a monthly $1 surcharge on behalf of the government for 911 emergency services.
The amendment passed 11-2, with the only comment before the vote coming from Sen. David Jones. He asked the Legislature's assistant post-auditor, Therese Todman, what the current balance was in the Indirect Cost Fund. She replied that the fund was reported to have had a balance of $3.2 million as of April 15.
However, on Tuesday, Post-Auditor Campbell Malone, who was unable to attend Monday's session, said there was a "shadow over that amount." Remarking on past Senate encounters with government financial officers, he said, "I wouldn't count on that amount, because the fund isn't reconciled."
Malone said he was doubtful for the same reason about another Senate appropriation Monday from the same fund, also of $1 million, to repair, extend and maintain water lines in Estates Tutu, Anna's Retreat and Smith Bay.
Meantime, labor leaders reacted favorably Tuesday to the Senate's approval of the Vitran funding measure.
Ralph Mandrew of St. Croix's Central Labor Council said while he hadn't seen the legislation, he was pleased to hear that the bill specified how the money should be spent. "This time," he said, "I understand it is specifically to return the laid-off employees, and I applaud it."
Mandrew said he feels that it is time to politicize the issue of public transit in the territory, but at the same time he would like to see the transit system returned to the private sector. "I was a labor leader when it was run by Abramson Bus Company on St. Croix, and it ran very well," he said.
On St. Thomas, Luis "Tito" Morales of the United Steelworkers Union said he would write to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull asking him to sign the bill into law promptly.
"It's enough to bring back everyone," Morales said. In fact, he said, "It may not take a million dollars." His reference was to the total of 62 Vitran workers who were laid off by Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson Jr. on May 11.
Efforts to obtain information from Thompson Tuesday were in vain. Aides said the word from their boss was that he had imposed a "news block"on comment regarding the matter and would save what he had to say for his appearance Wednesday night on the "Face to Face" program on WTJX-TV/Channel 12.
On May 8, Thompson sold the Senate Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee that Vitran was $12.7 million in the red and that cutbacks were needed because rider fares did not cover operating costs. Meantime, at a Government Operations Committee hearing, Office of Management and Budget director Ira Mills said the Indirect Cost Fund was being frozen.
On May 11, Thompson laid off half the Vitran work force – including drivers and maintenance personnel – in a move calculated to reduce the government's public transit spending by half. The administration made no response to offers advanced weeks before by unionized workers to forgo sick-leave, overtime and holiday pay and to drop to a four-day work week in order to preserve their jobs.
Government House chief labor negotiator Karen Andrews refused to meet with labor leaders until the $660,000 was appropriated from the fund. When the negotiations got under way last week, she told the union leaders that $370,000 of the money had already gone to pay Vitran bills. And, she said, the remaining $290,000 was not enough to hire back any of the 62 laid-off workers.
Voting with Bryan Monday night for his amendment were Sens. Jones, Gregory Bennerson, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Violet Anne Golden, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norman Jn Baptiste, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards. The "no" votes came from Sens. Lorraine Berry and George Goodwin.
Yet another amendment approved Monday night was one proposed by Liburd to override the governor's veto earlier of a bill creating a Public Transportation Enabling Fund. The measure calls for the establishment of an imprest fund from which money can be drawn down for public transit operations, purchases, personnel training and inter-island transport of equipment without having to go through normal government paperwork procedures.
The bill provides for the fund to consists of all fare-box revenues plus legislative appropriations, federal funds and voluntary contributions, such that the balance shall at no time exceed $100,000.

Public transit employees, ex-employees and riders were left to their own interpretations Tuesday of the potential impact of a Senate vote the night before to appropriate $1 million for Vitran from one of the government's numerous funds.
The action came as approval by the full Senate Monday night of an amendment offered by Sen. Adelbert Bryan to appropriate the money for the Public Works Department from the government's Indirect Cost Fund. The measure specified that the money is to be used this fiscal year (which ends Sept. 30) strictly for public transportation purposes – rehiring laid-off Vitran bus drivers and hiring additional drivers for the separate Vitran service for the disabled.
In April, the Senate had appropriated $660,000 from the same fund for what most lawmakers and union leaders had thought was the same purpose. However, a Government House official said last week that more than half of that money had gone to pay Vitran bills and that what remained was not enough to rehire any laid-off workers.
Bryan's amendment Monday was one of several senators attached successfully to a housekeeping bill that provided for changing the effective date that the V.I. Telephone Corp. was to begin collecting a monthly $1 surcharge on behalf of the government for 911 emergency services.
The amendment passed 11-2, with the only comment before the vote coming from Sen. David Jones. He asked the Legislature's assistant post-auditor, Therese Todman, what the current balance was in the Indirect Cost Fund. She replied that the fund was reported to have had a balance of $3.2 million as of April 15.
However, on Tuesday, Post-Auditor Campbell Malone, who was unable to attend Monday's session, said there was a "shadow over that amount." Remarking on past Senate encounters with government financial officers, he said, "I wouldn't count on that amount, because the fund isn't reconciled."
Malone said he was doubtful for the same reason about another Senate appropriation Monday from the same fund, also of $1 million, to repair, extend and maintain water lines in Estates Tutu, Anna's Retreat and Smith Bay.
Meantime, labor leaders reacted favorably Tuesday to the Senate's approval of the Vitran funding measure.
Ralph Mandrew of St. Croix's Central Labor Council said while he hadn't seen the legislation, he was pleased to hear that the bill specified how the money should be spent. "This time," he said, "I understand it is specifically to return the laid-off employees, and I applaud it."
Mandrew said he feels that it is time to politicize the issue of public transit in the territory, but at the same time he would like to see the transit system returned to the private sector. "I was a labor leader when it was run by Abramson Bus Company on St. Croix, and it ran very well," he said.
On St. Thomas, Luis "Tito" Morales of the United Steelworkers Union said he would write to Gov. Charles W. Turnbull asking him to sign the bill into law promptly.
"It's enough to bring back everyone," Morales said. In fact, he said, "It may not take a million dollars." His reference was to the total of 62 Vitran workers who were laid off by Public Works Commissioner Harold Thompson Jr. on May 11.
Efforts to obtain information from Thompson Tuesday were in vain. Aides said the word from their boss was that he had imposed a "news block"on comment regarding the matter and would save what he had to say for his appearance Wednesday night on the "Face to Face" program on WTJX-TV/Channel 12.
On May 8, Thompson sold the Senate Labor and Veterans Affairs Committee that Vitran was $12.7 million in the red and that cutbacks were needed because rider fares did not cover operating costs. Meantime, at a Government Operations Committee hearing, Office of Management and Budget director Ira Mills said the Indirect Cost Fund was being frozen.
On May 11, Thompson laid off half the Vitran work force – including drivers and maintenance personnel – in a move calculated to reduce the government's public transit spending by half. The administration made no response to offers advanced weeks before by unionized workers to forgo sick-leave, overtime and holiday pay and to drop to a four-day work week in order to preserve their jobs.
Government House chief labor negotiator Karen Andrews refused to meet with labor leaders until the $660,000 was appropriated from the fund. When the negotiations got under way last week, she told the union leaders that $370,000 of the money had already gone to pay Vitran bills. And, she said, the remaining $290,000 was not enough to hire back any of the 62 laid-off workers.
Voting with Bryan Monday night for his amendment were Sens. Jones, Gregory Bennerson, Donald "Ducks" Cole, Roosevelt David, Adlah "Foncie" Donastorg, Violet Anne Golden, Alicia "Chucky" Hansen, Norman Jn Baptiste, Almando "Rocky" Liburd and Vargrave Richards. The "no" votes came from Sens. Lorraine Berry and George Goodwin.
Yet another amendment approved Monday night was one proposed by Liburd to override the governor's veto earlier of a bill creating a Public Transportation Enabling Fund. The measure calls for the establishment of an imprest fund from which money can be drawn down for public transit operations, purchases, personnel training and inter-island transport of equipment without having to go through normal government paperwork procedures.
The bill provides for the fund to consists of all fare-box revenues plus legislative appropriations, federal funds and voluntary contributions, such that the balance shall at no time exceed $100,000.